“Why do you assume I take pleasure in giving my sister pain?”
“That is not quite what I meant. Other guardians would be less diligent about those in their charge, for the inconvenience to themselves is too great to stir them from their complacency.”
“I would consider that the most reprehensible abuse of the position, and the young lady would be the one to suffer for it. If the proper guardian will not take an interest, who is to do it?”
“Who, indeed?” Elizabeth sighed. “But happily, your sister shall not be such a one. She may still be grieved with you, but as you have noted that she has a generous nature, she will forgive you in time. This must have been a very recent disagreement between you.”
He pressed his lips together and made a low humming noise between his teeth. “Very recent,” he confessed reluctantly. “Yes, I am confident that she will see the wisdom of my advice, in time, but she has not fully done so yet. Her fragile state only heightens the stakes of the present crisis and makes my own position the more precarious. I cannot…” here he shook his head and looked away. “Forgive me, it is not your concern.”
“I should think that the troubles of those in my employ are indeed my concern,” she informed him archly. “It would be dreadful to think I would lose the services of a perfectly good footman due to some personal difficulties.”
A slow, cautious smile appeared… oh, why must the man have dimples? Elizabeth flushed slightly and found it difficult to hold his eyes for more than a second or two with such an expression on his face.
“You are rather enjoying this charade, are you not, Miss Bennet?”
She lifted her shoulders nonchalantly. “It is the first time I have ever had a manservant dedicated exclusively to my own delights. I believe I could become used to it.”
“It will cost you dearly. My services do not come cheaply.”
“In that case, perhaps you should look for a better position!” she laughed. “I have just enough pin money for a few new bonnets from town before I return home.”
“But as you have already informed me, my skills are somewhat lacking. How shall I find suitable employment without further practice and a solid reference?”
“In that case,” she leaned back and lifted her hand with a flourish, speaking with an exotic trill to her voice. “I fancy another manchette. Would you be so good as to pass me a bit more of the fine luncheon that Cook has so courteously sent up from the kitchens?”
He was smiling again, and Elizabeth felt her cheeks warming just a little more when his dark eyes sparkled in her direction. He bent over his bread parcel and carefully withdrew another generousportion. “I ought to have procured some butter and preserves for milady.”
“One must learn to endure some inconveniences on a proper picnic. Do you really intend to stand behind me the entire time holding my parasol?”
He looked over his shoulder. “Indeed. I know our faces are not obvious from here, but it is remarkable enough for a lady to be reclining in the park with only her servant. I do not think most would consider our positiontooscandalous, but I do not desire that anyone should perceive anything out of place. Have you any anxiety about what your relations might be thinking of your whereabouts?”
“I had left a message that I would be at my uncle’s warehouse. It would not be so unusual for me to visit his offices at least once during my stay, and I think under the circumstances, my aunt will know why I wished to be away from the house. She will not suffer any anxiety…” she frowned again, “…unless he returns before I do. But surely he will not.”
“I apologise, Miss Bennet. I have caused you a very great inconvenience.”
“Indeed, you have, but it does not necessarily follow that the inconvenience is an unhappy one. You have provided me with an excellent diversion, and for that I thank you. I have all London’s delights at my fingertips and a handsome footman to attend every one of my whims.”
One side of his mouth curled, revealing a flash of white teeth. “You think me handsome?”
“Surely it is only an effect of the dashing livery,” she took a slow, deliberate bite of her manchette and chewed it thoroughly before continuing. “Perhaps that is why my sisters admire a red coat. That gold braid and fine cut lendanyman an air of distinction.”
“I am glad I am capable of impressing you in some measure,” he answered dryly.
“You would be a poor candidate for a footman if you could not,” she informed him, “but here, we are talking of silly matters when you had an assignment to complete. So far you have not observed so much as a leaf or a blade of grass. If you do not like watching birds, perhaps there are some squirrels in this park for you to admire.”
“I think the wildlife here is rather limited,” he paused and levelled a pronounced smirk in her direction. “Save for one decidedly curious creature with an affinity for saucy remarks and a penchant for changing the subject whenever it suits her. Would you like another manchette?”
Elizabeth laughed. “Thank you, sir, but no.”
“Then you are ready for dessert.” He unwrapped his parcel completely, his countenance darkening with frustration when bits of the brown paper stuck to his fingers. He picked out what he desired, all while holding each finger daintily apart from its fellows, lest they stick to one another.
Elizabeth bit back a snicker. He really was the drollest man; so staid and eminently masculine, yet so fastidious. He would have been an entertaining puzzle to study, had she a better opportunity.
“Do you like sweet rolls?” he asked, after freeing one of the said treats from its wrapping. “They are another favourite of my sister’s, and I thought you might enjoy them as well.”
“How very kind of you, sir!” She took it gingerly, smiling in gratitude for his thoughtfulness.
He turned his attention to extracting another sweet roll from the paper for himself. “I apologise that I have no tea for milady, nor even a proper napkin for you to clean your fingers.”
